Iya Wilson

Iya (Adamienko) Wilson, 88, passed away at Life Care Center of Casper, on January 6, 2009. She was born November 26, 1920, in Odessa, Russia. Her parents were forced to leave her 3 months after she was born because Iya was ill when Revolutionary troops invaded her city of birth. For 5 years she was raised in an orphanage. During her fifth year, an aunt found and raised her as her own child for the next 6 years. At the age of eleven, her aunt made contact with her biological parents in Poland, and she was reunited with them. War broke out when Iya was 19, forcing her to use her skills of survival, working with the underground and fighting on the battlefields. Her family was all killed in WWII. After the war, Iya made her way to England, where she became a nurse. With an opportunity to immigrate to Canada, she made her way to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. There she met Roger L. Wilson, who was on Army holiday leave. They fell in love and married 3 days later. Roger had to return to the United States to his work. They corresponded for 6 months until her passport was approved after which she immigrated to the United States, the country she loved and dreamed all her life of coming to. Iya spoke at many functions and schools about her experiences. She also went back to college and believed strongly in education. In her later years, she acted as an interpreter for Russian and Ukrainian immigrants coming to Casper. Iya was an active and much loved woman in the community. She will be sadly missed. She is survived by her 2 daughters, Roxana (Blaine) Fryklund and Etoile Wilson; three grandchildren, Scott (Bev) Fryklund, Dawn Fryklund, Sheila (Eric) Sinclair; nine great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. At Iya's request, there will be no services. Instead, she suggested a summer BBQ at the lake for family and friends, where there will be a celebration of her life.